Thanksgiving airline tickets

Quick question for those older, wiser cadets..How much time does it take to get to the COS airport from the Academy? Taxi is an option. My son's last class is at 4:30 on the 24th. Can he make it to the airport in time to catch a 6:05pm flight out? He would have his boarding pass already printed.

One other question...do classes run their normal schedule that day or are you let out earlier?

Cadets will not have classes at all on the 24th. Commandants Challenge is the 22nd and 23rd. Cadets will be dismissed after LMD on the 24th. Here is a part of the email sent to parents from Barbara Gutierrez, who is the parent's liason:

I just got the word - cadets can depart a little earlier for Thanksgiving Break. Leave begins after LMD on 24 November. Cadets should plan their flight departures no earlier than 2:30 pm from Colorado Springs and 3:30 pm from Denver. For planning purposes on the return, if arriving in Denver, they need to arrive NLT 1530... and if in COS, they need to arrive NLT 1630. This allows for adequate transit time in the event we experience inclement weather in the local area.

//SIGNED//

BARBARA GUTIERREZ
Parents' Liaison
U.S. Air Force Academy, CO

I would give the advice to USAFA parents on this site: If you are not a member of Famnet or the Parent Yahoo groups, it is a very good idea to join. Barbara emails the groups all of the time with news and updates about Academy happenings. The information gained from those sources is invaluable for planning, and you don't have to bug your cadet for details that they might not know, yet.

I saw her post on the yahoo group..but interpreted it inaccurately. I thought that it meant they could go after their LMD (I was taking that to mean his class). My guess is academics is not part of the LMD...so much to learn!

How do they get to the airport? I call one of the bus services and to figure out transport for a 6:30 AM flight out of Denver on the 25th. They said they could not get on the base that the cadet would have to get to the Academy Hotel. and the base did not open till 6:00 AM anyway.

I heard there is a USAFA shuttle service; can the cadet use that service for a VERY early flight?

How would a cadet get to the hotel for a service like mentioned above? Take a cab to get a bus to hop a plane?

The Cadet Recreation Center offers shuttle busses for the Holiday breaks to both Denver and Colorado Springs airports from Vandenberg Hall. The busses usually start running very early in the morning, so I would think you should be able to schedule one for an early flight. They no longer post the schedule online for security reasons, but you (or your cadet) can call the Outdoor Rec Center at (719) 333-4602 to schedule a ride. I am not sure of the current cost, but they will be able to tell you on the phone.

The Outdoor Rec Center is also the place where your cadet can rent a car for a weekend if they want. The Center's website is: